With standardized benefits, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) takes a lot of the guess work out of retirement planning. You can count on predictable monthly premiums instead of trying to be prepared for an array of potential doctor and hospital bills.

Whether your Medigap plan is from the biggest or the smallest insurer in your state, you can trust that you’ll get the same benefits for Medigap Plan A, for instance. There are 10 different Medigap plans choices now, and you can learn what they cover here on our site.

Medicare Supplement Insurance is required to follow the rules set by Medicare, so it pays automatically whenever Medicare covers an expense. Medigap plans also help out in certain situations where Medicare is noticeably absent, like when you travel outside the U.S.

Medigap policies give you a lot of choice in how to plan for your health care costs. For example, when it comes to meeting Medicare’s Part A deductible that’s $1,156, you can pick a Medigap plan that will reimburse you for the whole amount, three-fourths of it, or just half. Of course, the more of the financial risk you are willing to accept, the lower your Medigap plan premiums will probably be. Want to learn more about how to make Medigap work for you? Join our live Q&A Teleseminar for free.

Wiley Long is founder and president of Medigap Advisors, and is passionate about helping people navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. He is the author of The Medicare Playbook: Designing Your Successful Health Coverage Strategy, a clear and simple explanation so you can make the most of your Medicare coverage. For more information visit www.MediGapAdvisors.com.